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FACTORS INFLUENCING PERFORMANCE OF WATER PROJECTS IN ARID AND SEMI ARID AREAS. A CASE OF EWASO NG’IRO NORTH BOREHOLE PROJECTS, ISIOLO COUNTY, KENYA

Mohamud Maimuna - University of Nairobi, Kenya

Prof. Harriet Kidombo - University of Nairobi, Kenya

ABSTRACT

Most of the water projects in Kenya have been performing dismally with most becoming un-operational or requiring rehabilitation. In Kenya, it is quite a common phenomenon to observe non-functional water projects that are not operational in most parts of the country. However, if the current trends of poor performance of water projects are allowed to continue, rural water facilities will be completely non-functional which significantly lowers the effective coverage. The purpose of this study was to establish the factors influencing performance of water projects in arid and semi-arid areas with reference to Ewaso Ng’iro North Borehole Projects, Isiolo County, Kenya. The study was guided by the following objectives; to determine how community participation, water infrastructure, project management and maintenance funds affect performance of Ewaso Ng’iro North borehole projects in Isiolo County. The study was grounded on the community participation theory, institutional theory and resource based view theory. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population composed of employees in different management levels of the 12 development agencies including the NGOs, CBOs and RBOs and government officials from the Ministry of Water and Irrigation. A sample population of 162 is arrived at by calculating the target population of 281 with a 95% confidence level and an error of 0.05 using the below formula taken from Kothari (2004). The study selected the respondents using stratified proportionate random sampling technique. The researcher used a semi structured questionnaire and focus group discussion as the primary data collection tool. The researcher administered the questionnaire individually to all respondents from the government agencies. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 24.0). Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, mean score and standard deviation was estimated for all the quantitative variables and information presented inform of tables. Inferential data analysis was done using multiple regression analysis. Multiple regression analysis was used to establish the relations between the independent and dependent variables. the study aimed at determining how community participation affect performance of Ewaso Ng’iro North borehole projects in Isiolo County and found that it greatly affects the performance of Ewaso Ng’iro North Borehole Projects in Isiolo County. Further the study found that maintenance funds greatly influences performance of Ewaso Ng’iro North borehole projects in Isiolo County. the study concluded that community participation had the greatest effect on the performance of water projects in Ewaso Ng’iro north borehole projects, followed by project management then water infrastructure while maintenance funds had the least effect to the performance of water projects in Ewaso Ng’iro north borehole projects. From the findings and conclusions the study recommends that; The Isiolo County Government and stakeholders should allocates funding towards the development of water infrastructure especially in construction of new pipeline extensions and constructing of new water points in Ewaso Ng’iro North and the use of solar energy as an option to replace the diesel generators or a hybrid system should be explored. More local technicians should be trained on operation and maintenance of generators and hand pumps. The water management committees should be trained on financial management and record keeping. This should be done by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural resources.